Missouri – As gasoline prices jumped during the past week, climbing by more than ten cents per gallon, Missouri drivers felt a pinch at the pump. On Monday, December 23, the statewide average cost a gallon of regular unleaded petrol hit $2.77, substantially rising from the previous week.
This most recent increase puts Missouri’s average gasoline prices 3.3 cents higher than they were only one month ago and almost 6 cents more than they were last year. Such swings are notable when Missourians arrange their travel schedules throughout the holiday season, which usually sees an increase in road traffic.
With the lowest gasoline station recorded rates as low as $2.29 per gallon and the highest-priced station soaring to $3.49 per gallon, the variety of gas prices across the state indicates an apparent disparity. This substantial spread underscore the variability consumers face depending on where they fill up.
On a broader scale, the national average for gasoline also climbed—though at a slower pace than Missouri’s—with a 3.1-cent gain over the past week to reach $3.01 per gallon. By comparison, the national average dropped last month and is less than the rates from a year ago.
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Price adjustments also affect diesel drivers; the national average for diesel fuel increased by 0.6 cents last week, thereby increasing the price to $3.478 per gallon.
When one looks back over the past ten years, the variations in gas prices at this time of year seem to follow a pattern of fluctuations that reflects seasonal demand and more general economic dynamics. For example, compared to the $2.71 registered in 2023, the average gas price in Missouri was substantially lower at $1.93 in 2020.
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Price patterns differ in the surrounding areas; Kansas City recorded a gain of 5.9 cents, so averaging $2.73 per gallon. With even steeper increase of 15.4 cents, St. Louis saw an average price of $2.95 per gallon. Topeka’s pricing stayed somewhat steady, not significantly different from last week.
GasBuddy, the company behind these figures, remains a key resource for tracking gas prices, providing updates from an extensive database that covers nearly 150,000 gas stations across the United States.
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As residents of Missouri and beyond watch the ebb and flow of fuel prices, the economic implications of such changes continue to affect the pockets of everyday consumers, with this latest rise being no exception.
Gas prices in 2025 are expected to continue the declining trend. Read the full analysis by GasBuddy here.
